Victoria-based MP Murray Rankin officially tabled his private member’s bill (bill C-415) in Ottawa on Thursday, calling on criminal records for any Canadian carrying a charge for minor cannabis possession to be expunged.

Bill C-415: An Act to establish a procedure for expunging certain cannabis-related convictions, is Rankin’s response to the roughly half a million Canadians who have cannabis-related criminal records.

“Over 500,000 Canadians have a criminal record for cannabis possessions,” said Rankin to the House of Commons.

“That’s 500,000 Canadians who may be barred from finding employment, from volunteering in their communities, from finding a place to rent, all for the non-violent action that will soon be perfectly legal.”

I have officially tabled my private member's bill, C-415, An Act to establish a procedure for expunging certain cannabis-related convictions. This is a bill about righting past wrongs and it will help hundreds of thousands of Canadians get on with their lives. pic.twitter.com/0Bg5cvrXQV